Keane edge puts Leeds on top and Ipswich in trouble

It was not as spectacular as Manchester United's, but Leeds's comeback yesterday was just as effective and carried the bonus of lifting them back to the top of the Premiership.

David O'Leary's side did not play well but the manager was happy enough to dig out a result and keep the pressure on the champions and the other pretenders to the throne.

Because Uefa Cup games are played on Thursdays, Leeds often play catch-up in the Premiership on a Sunday. But after dispatching Maritimo da Madeira four days ago, they found Ipswich were not such a piece of cake.

A goal down after 22 minutes, Leeds came back inexorably, equalising in the second half through Robbie Keane, then taking the three points thanks to an unlucky own-goal from Mark Venus - not a good way to mark his first start of the season.

"It is the sign of a good honest team that we dug out a result today," said O'Leary. "We've thrown the challenge back down to the others."

The result was tough on Ipswich, who dominated much of the match but proved vulnerable on the break. Last season's surprise package have only one Premiership win to their name this season and as a result of this latest setback drop into the bottom three, the position many forecast for them a year ago.

George Burley hoped his team's season had turned the corner with Thursday's torpedoing of Moscow. But the confidence instilled by that success will now have to be built again as another bad result adds fuel to the debate about whether Ipswich are wonders of the one-season variety.

They certainly began the game well, for they were a side with something to prove, their dismal start to the domestic season capped by last weekend's embarrassing 4-0 defeat at the hands of a virtually second-string Manchester United.

But for 45 minutes at least yesterday the rich colours of the old Ipswich were back on display. There was movement up front, hard work throughout and most importantly plenty of those quick-passing triangles with which this team, when they click, can open any defence like a can of beans.

Marcus Stewart had already hit the post when Ipswich took a deserved lead on 22 minutes after Jim Magilton won a debatable free-kick on the left. Venus, in the side for the injured Titus Bramble, bent in a lovely cross and Stewart, sent off controversially in this game last season, stooped in front of Danny Mills to glance home a gleeful header. It was only the second Premiership goal Leeds have conceded this season.

But despite all Ipswich's possession and the lack of early input from Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell particularly, it was Leeds who created the better chances.

Even in the first half they had been dangerous on the break. Eirik Bakke's flick-on had sent in the quicksilver Keane for a shot which Matteo Sereni saved brilliantly. Then the Italian keeper proved equally agile to deny Kewell.

In the second half Leeds upped their tempo and workrate and only the success of Ipswich's offside trap prevented them testing Sereni further. But the closeness of some of the linesman's decisions hinted at a dangerous strategy.

Sure enough, on 69 minutes Keane was set free on goal by Mills's long chip and Sereni was relieved to save with his feet. And a minute later Leeds equalised when Kewell's first-time through-ball sprang Ipswich's offside trap, releasing Keane for a cool finish past Sereni.

Four minutes from time Leeds scored the winner. An error from Chris Makin let in the ubiquitous Keane and his cross would have found Kewell on the far post, so Venus's interception was vital. Unfortunately his long-legged lunge propelled the ball into his own net.

The substitute Pablo Counago went close near the end as Ipswich tried to salvage a point, but nothing was forthcoming.

"We deserved something from the game but sometimes football can be cruel," Burley said. "But we're confident that if we keep playing like that we'll push up the league."

Arguably this likeable Scot now faces a tougher task than lifting his side to fifth place in the Premiership last season.